Portuguese Immigration focuses on life in Portugal: In the era of big data, social networks play an important role in interpersonal communication. More and more people prefer to use these platforms to document and share their daily lives with family, especially enjoying the act of sharing photos of their children. Many netizens lament that social networks can be considered the most comprehensive parenting album.
However, a recent case in Portugal has prompted reflection: the Évora District Court has ordered a couple not to disclose photos or any information that could identify their 12-year-old daughter on social networks. In China, it is also common for parents to exercise the right of portrait on behalf of their children, and lawyers suggest that more respect should be given to children's rights.
Online Sharing of Children’s Photos Leaves Lasting Digital Footprints
Judges from the Évora District Court stated that children are not possessions of their parents; they have their own rights, including the use of their own images. The judges also expressed concern over the increasing number of child sexual abuse cases. They pointed out that the rapid development of social networks makes it easy for criminals to find and target victims online, thus parents should refrain from disclosing their children's identity information and frequently visited places online.
Upon reflection, many parents do not seriously consider their children's feelings when sharing photos online. A survey conducted by the UK-based "Parenting Space" website revealed that only 12% of parents seek their children's consent before uploading their photos, while one-third of parents admitted that their children have stopped them from uploading certain photos. This indicates that children are not always willing to be the main subjects in their parents' social media albums. A study by the Hong Kong Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data pointed out that once parents upload photos and videos of their young children to social networks, these online footprints are difficult to erase, which may not only lead to future family conflicts but also potentially infringe on the children's privacy.
Parents Have an Obligation to Protect Their Children’s Privacy
As guardians of their children, parents have an obligation to protect their children's privacy and to prevent their photos from being improperly used after being shared online. In the "Parenting Space" survey, over 60% of parents reported that they rarely or never check the privacy settings of photos on social networks. Even if they delete previously posted images, they may have already been copied elsewhere, including on some inappropriate websites. This remains a challenge for many.
In extreme cases, "improper use" of photos can inadvertently place children in dangerous situations, as cases of crimes committed through social networks continue to emerge. For some criminals, these social networks serve as a "roster" for finding targets. Many parents inadvertently expose information such as their home address and financial status when uploading photos. By revealing the time and location of the photos, it becomes easy to deduce when and where children are alone, leading to numerous cases of sexual assault and trafficking.